RMS Queen Mary

World War II

In late August 1939, the Queen Mary was on a return run from New York to Southampton. However, the international situation led to her being shadowed by the battlecruiser HMS Hood. She arrived safely, and set out again for New York on the 1 September. By the time she arrived, the Second World War had started, and she was ordered to stay where she was, joining her great rival, Normandie. In 1940, the pair were also joined by Queen Marys running mate Queen Elizabeth. Rather than keeping them bottled up, it was decided to use the ships as troopers. So, the Queen Mary left New York for Sydney, where she, along with several other liners, was converted into a troopship to carry Australian and New Zealand soldiers to the United Kingdom. Eventually joined by the Queen Elizabeth, they were the largest and fastest troopships involved in the war, often carrying as many as 15,000 men in a single voyage, and often travelling out of convoy and without escort. Because of their size and prestige, their sinking was a high priority for Germany. However, their high speed meant that it was virtually impossible for U-Boats to catch them.

Related Topics:
1939 - HMS ''Hood'' - 1 September - Second World War - ''Queen Elizabeth'' - Sydney - United Kingdom - U-Boats

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